Evaluation of Gender and Racial Dynamics in Leadership Roles Within Academic Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Presenting Author(s)

Eve Tsai, MD, PhD

Professor
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, ON, CA

Co-Author(s)

TS

T�a Sue, BMSc

Medical Student
Department of Undergraduate Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
Isabella Churchill, MSc

Medical Student
Department of Undergraduate Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
Toronto, ON, CA
RL

Rebecca Lau, BMSc

Medical Student
Department of Undergraduate Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, United States
CM

Caroline Mallity, BSc

Medical Student
Department of Undergraduate Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, United States
PP

Philippe Phan, MD, PhD, FRCSC

Orthopaedic Surgeon
Spine Program, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON. Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON.
AS

Alexandra Stratton, MD, MSc, FRCSC

Orthopaedic Surgeon
Spine Program, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON. Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON., United States
EW

Eugene Wai, MD, MSc, CIP, FRCSC

Orthopaedic Surgeon
Spine Program, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON. Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON., United States

Introduction: Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic surgery have historically exhibited limited diversity, with Caucasian males occupying the majority of leadership roles. Despite an increasing proportion of women entering these fields, there has not been a concomitant increase in female and minority-occupied leadership positions, particularly at the higher levels of academic surgery. To assess leadership diversity, we analyzed the perceived gender and racial distribution of those occupying leadership positions on journal editorial boards and society executive boards within neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery.

Methods: The top three journals and journal-affiliated societies based on journal impact factor for subspecialties, including spine, within neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery were included. The perceived gender and race of individuals holding leadership positions was identified from corresponding websites and a focused search through institutional profiles in duplicate.

Results: Perceived diversity amongst the leadership of 27 journals and 28 societies was reviewed. Orthopaedic surgery had a significantly (p < 0.05) lower proportion of females and of intersectional minorities, being both non-male and non-Caucasian. Additionally, orthopaedic surgery had a lower proportion of perceived minorities (19.5%) compared to neurosurgery (37.7%), although this was not significant (p=0.0923). Of journal editor-in-chiefs and society presidents, neurosurgery demonstrated a greater mean proportion of females (21.94% vs. 11.14%) and minorities (37.76% vs. 19.47%).

Conclusion : While gender and race are not the only dimensions of diversity, efforts to encourage adequate representation is important to promote a top-down approach towards parity, and to improve the quality and inclusivity of journal and society outputs. Previous research has highlighted the persistence of gender and racial disparities in neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery, however, our study demonstrates a state of more equitable representation in visible leadership roles within neurosurgery. Although we found leadership within orthopaedic surgery to be predominantly male and Caucasian with a significant paucity of intersectional minorities, visible efforts towards improving existing disparities have been implemented.